Alkylation of Nonacidic C(sp)-H Bonds by Photoinduced Catalytic Michael-Type Radical Addition.

Photoinduced catalytic Michael-type radical addition was achieved via olefin insertion into a nonacidic C(sp)-H bond, utilizing 2-chloroanthraquinone as a C-H bond-cleaving catalyst and 1,1-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene as an olefinic substrate. The present radical protocol allows carbon chain extension stemming from nonacidic C-H bonds, which complements alkylation at acidic C-H bonds under ionic conditions and installs the active methine site that acts as a versatile synthetic handle for further transformations.